Menorah Banner

Chanukah, the Festival of Lights, is a Jewish holiday celebrated for 8 days each winter. During this time, children and families look forward to dreidels, latkes, and the daily lighting of the menorah. Invite students working in small groups to learn more about Chanukah celebrations in their community and around the world. Organize a variety of text resources for the classroom, as well as suggested Internet web sites for students to view during this investigation.

Once research is complete groups are responsible for organizing a presentation for small groups of classmates. This should include a written summary of the team's research and a visual aid. A Menorah Banner would make an attractive visual.

Distribute Crayola® Colored Pencils, Multicultural Markers, Glue Sticks and a large sheet of construction paper to each group. Demonstrate how to make the candles for the menorah by laying both hands on the paper. Spread out fingers, with thumbs together. A partner will trace both hands on the paper.

Students draw a pretend candle flame on each fingertip, but not the thumbs. Cut out around the candles using Crayola Scissors. Color them with Crayola Washable Markers.

On a second piece of construction paper, students draw a large candle for the center of the menorah. Add a colorful flame to the tip. Cut it out. Place it on top of the thumb prints using a Crayola Glue Stick.

On a third piece of paper, students draw and color the base of the menorah. Encourage students to be creative and use Crayola Multicultural Markers to make the base resemble wood grain.

Students use markers to color a background for their banners. Glue the menorah on the background. Add words such as Happy Chanukah or Festival of Lights. If any students in the class know Hebrew, ask them for assistance in writing in that language.

Punch holes at the top of the banner for hanging. Thread a ribbon through the holes and knot.

Provide time in the school day for student groups to present their learning to classmates and display the Menorah Banners prominently in the classroom.

LA: Ask and answer questions to demonstrate understanding of a text, referring explicitly to the text as the basis for the answers.

LA: Use information gained from illustrations (e.g., maps, photographs) and the words in a text to demonstrate understanding of the text.

LA: Describe the relationship between a series of historical events, scientific ideas or concepts, or steps in technical procedures in a text, using language that pertains to time, sequence, and cause/effect.

LA: Engage effectively in a range of collaborative discussions (one-on-one, in groups, and teacher-led) with diverse partners on grade 3 topics and texts, building on others’ ideas and expressing their own clearly.

LA: Report on a topic or text, tell a story, or recount an experience with appropriate facts and relevant, descriptive details, speaking clearly at an understandable pace.

SS: Describe ways in which language, stories, folktales, music, and artistic creations serve as expressions of culture and influence behavior of people living in a particular culture.

SS: Give examples of and explain group and institutional influences such as religious beliefs, laws, and peer pressure, on people, events, and elements of culture.

VA: Use different media, techniques, and processes to communicate ideas, experiences, and stories.

VA: Use visual structures of art to communicate ideas.

VA: Select and use subject matter, symbols, and ideas to communicate meaning.

VA: Identify specific works of art as belonging to particular cultures, times, and places.

Students research the Festival of Lights, Chanukah, including symbols of the festival such as the menorah. Investigate other winter holidays and symbols of those events. Compare and contrast with Chanukah.

Collect recipes typically served during the Chanukah season, such as latkes. Research recipes for other winter holidays. Organize these recipes into booklet format and publish for each member of the class.